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Boat mishaps: FG procures N14.6 billion modern boats, ferries for distribution to riverine areas

Funso OLOJO 
In its determined efforts to reduce
boat mishaps on Nigeria’s waterways to the bearest minimum,  the Federal government has purchased modern boats and ferries that would be distributed to the riverine areas of the country.
The gesture is meant to replace the wooden and dilapidated boats and ferries that have been the major causes of mishaps on the Nigeria”s  waterways.
Making this disclosure on Thursday January 29th 2026 was the immediate past Managing Director of the Nigerian Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) and the Governorship candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun state, Asiwaju Bola Oyebamiji.
Oyebamiji, who was speaking to the coalition of maritime journalists in his campaign office at Ilerioluwa house, Oshogbo,  disclosed that the acquired boats and ferries will arrive the country in “the next few months”.
According to him, the purchase was in response to his recommendations he made to the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola while he was the NIWA MD.
The APC governorship candidate in Osun state further disclosed that these modern boats and ferries, when they are delivered, will be distributed to the riverine state that are much exposed and affected by mishaps due to the use of wooden and dilapidated water crafts.
Some of the riverine states that are expected to benefit from these largesse include Niger, Kogi, Benue, Kwara, and Kebbi states.
Such states like Lagos, Rivers and Cross Rivers, according to Asiwaju Oyebamiji, may not be beneficiaries because “they have the capacity to invest in such modern boats and ferries”
“I presented a paper to the Federal government, to my Honorable Minister, and the Federal government paid about 14.6 billion to import very good, very big boats that can actually take agricultural products and people that are domesticated to our waters.
” I’m not talking of Lagos.Lagos has enough, and Lagos is capable of investing in ferry and boats that can give us a mileage and a Rivers state can do that. Cross Rivers too can do that,  but we are talking of Niger, Kogi, Benue, Kwara, and Kebbi.
“I’m sure in the next few months, those boats and ferries will be delivered, and that will reduce the boat mishaps drastically.” the former NIWA MD disclosed.
He noted that wooden and dilapidated boats and ferries account for about 20 – 25 percent of mishaps in the riverine areas while human elements account for about 70 percent of the water carnage.
While reminiscing  on his days at NIWA, Oyebamiji said he met the agency in a state of comatose where the staff were ill- motivated, hungry and angry while boats mishaps were the order of the day.
“When I came into NIWA, I have never heard of NIWA in my life before I came into NIWA.
“When I came in, I looked at what is happening in NIWA. I looked at their profile.
“I see that, one, that agency is an agency that you can say that is moribund.  They are not known as NPA and NIMASA.
“And one thing that is synonymous to NIWA then was boat mishaps” the former NIWA MD revealed.
He however said that after analyzing the problems of the agency through SWOT analysis method ( Strength, Weakness, Opportunities and Threats), he went to the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy who gave his support and encouragement to do whatever he could to turn things around.
Oyebamiji said the first thing he did was to invest in the human elements in the agency through motivation of staff to lift their dampen spirit.
He said that it was the same staff who were there when NIWA was moribund and boat mishaps were the order of the day that also worked very hard to achieve a drastic turnaround of the agency through programmes and projects that eventually led to the reduction of mishaps on the nation’s waterways.
“I didn’t know that I would spend only two and a half years in NIWA
“I have a plan. I have a long-term plan for NIWA of 20 years where I thought that by the time I spend four years, I will have institutionalized those processes that will give them to achieve that plan.
” I give my staff priority because anywhere in the world, the most relevant asset that anybody can have that is tangible is human being. That’s the fact.
“That’s why you see that people is a major asset that you have in many organizations. I did a lot of things for my people in NIWA.
“I hold them to very high esteem. We added value to them, and we added value back to it.
“We recorded about almost 75 percent to 80 percent success in NIWA and  what we have today was the same staff that sat unconsciously without adding value, that achieved the same goal” the former NIWA MD stated.
Oyebamiji was full of praise for the media who supported him in his campaign to reduce carnage on Nigeria’s waterways.
It could be recalled that the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has consistently emphasized the need for the riverine areas to drop the use of wooden and dilapidated boats while urging the state governments in these areas to invest in modern water crafts in order to minimize manace on the waterways.
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Customs

KLT Customs reaffirms commitment to stronger maritime stakeholder engagement

Deputy Comptroller Bolaji Adigun

Gloria Odion, Maritime reporter
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‎The Acting Customs Area Controller (CAC) of the Kirikiri Lighter Terminal (KLT) Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Deputy Comptroller Bolaji Adigun, has reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to deepening engagement with stakeholders across the maritime industry in line with efforts to promote trade facilitation, transparency, and sustainable economic growth.
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‎Adigun gave the assurance through the Deputy Comptroller in charge of Administration, Comptroller T.A. Jonah, who represented him during a courtesy visit by the newly elected Executive Committee of the Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN) to the Command in Lagos.
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‎The Acting CAC, who was unavoidably absent, underscored the importance of sustained collaboration between the Nigeria Customs Service and key industry stakeholders, particularly the maritime media, in advancing the Service’s mandate and supporting national economic development.
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‎He described the media as a critical partner in disseminating information on government policies, customs reforms, trade facilitation initiatives, revenue generation, and anti-smuggling operations.
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‎According to him, maritime journalists occupy a strategic position in shaping public understanding and perception of activities within the port and maritime sector, stressing the need for professionalism, accuracy, and balanced reportage in the discharge of their duties.
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‎Adigun further assured the MARAN delegation that the KLT Area Command would continue to operate an open-door policy while fostering cordial and productive relationships with stakeholders within the maritime community.
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‎Earlier in his remarks, the President of MARAN, Mr. Oluyinka Onigbinde, stated that the visit formed part of the association’s ongoing stakeholder engagement initiative following the inauguration of its newly elected executive committee.
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‎Onigbinde explained that the purpose of the visit was to formally introduce the new leadership of the association to the Command and strengthen the longstanding relationship between MARAN and the Nigeria Customs Service.
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‎He commended the KLT Area Command for its contributions to trade facilitation, revenue generation, and enforcement activities, describing the Command as a vital component of Customs operations within Nigeria’s port system.
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‎The MARAN President also reaffirmed the association’s commitment to professional, objective, and development-driven journalism, noting that maritime reporters play a significant role in promoting informed discourse on issues affecting the industry.
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‎He further assured the Command of MARAN’s continued support for initiatives aimed at enhancing efficiency, transparency, and competitiveness within Nigeria’s maritime sector through responsible and factual reporting.

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Headlines

One infant, three adults die, several others sustain injuries in fatal train derailment along Warri- Itakpe route 

Funso OLOJO,  Editor 
The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has confirmed the death of four passengers in a train derailment along the Warri–Itakpe Train Service (WITS) corridor near Agbor, Delta State on Monday, June 8th, 2026.
Several others suffered various degrees of injuries.
In a statement by the Ministry of Transportation  and signed by its Permanent Secretary, Engr. Funsho Adebiyi, the victims included two female adults, one male adult and one infant.
The accident involved four coaches which reportedly capsized while one coach derailed, resulting in the unfortunate loss of four lives.
The statement confirmed that a total of 442 passengers were booked on the train, while 40 crew members, security personnel, and third-party service providers were also on board, bringing the total number of persons on the train to 482.
The NRC had activated immediate rescue and evacuation operations with the support of the Delta State Government, NEMA, FRSC, the Police, Civil Defence, local authorities, security agencies, and other emergency responders, and were completed by 6:30 p.m on Monday .
The Injured passengers were evacuated to medical facilities in Agbor for treatment.
 Other notable individuals on board included the Senator representing Delta Central Senatorial District, Senator Ede Dafinone, and former Delta State Secretary to the State Government, Hon. Patrick Ukah, among others.
As of the time of this release, 24 serious injuries have been recorded, while several other passengers sustained varying degrees of injuries and are receiving medical attention.
One NRC staff member suffered a traumatic limb injury and is currently receiving treatment and is reported to be in stable condition.
“The Ministry and the NRC extend their deepest condolences to the families of the deceased and pray for the quick recovery of all those injured.
“The Corporation also appreciates the swift intervention of the Delta State Government, emergency responders, security agencies, the NRC Mechanical Directorate, the Special Rescue and Emergency Team, medical personnel, and members of the public who assisted in the rescue efforts” the statement declared.
The ministry said full onboard manifest has been retrieved and will be made available upon request by the relevant authorities while efforts are ongoing to identify all the injured and deceased persons for proper documentation.
The Ministry in conjunction with the NRC have commenced a full investigation into the cause of the accident while efforts will continue to account for all passengers and provide the necessary support to those affected.
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Commentaries

Why Nigeria must prioritize competency development and standards to harness gains of  blue economy

Funso OLOJO,  Editor 
Nigeria is endowed with vast maritime resources which offer enormous opportunities for economic growth, employment generation, food security, and environmental sustainability.
With its fabled over 850 kilometers of coastline, extensive inland waterways, and strategic access to the Gulf of Guinea, the country is naturally blessed to emerge as a hub for maritime activities in Africa.
However , taking advantage of these huge massive maritime opportunities should be the priority of Nigerian government which must be intentional on developing competency level of its Maritime professionals and raise their
adherence to international standards.
The blue economy encompasses diverse sectors including shipping, fisheries, aquaculture, marine tourism, offshore energy, maritime logistics, shipbuilding, and marine environmental management.
 These sectors are highly knowledge-driven and require a workforce equipped with specialized skills and globally recognized certifications.
Without competent professionals, Nigeria risks losing economic opportunities to countries with better-trained maritime personnel and stronger institutional frameworks.
Competency development is essential for enhancing productivity, safety, and operational efficiency across the maritime sector.
Skilled seafarers, marine engineers, port operators, logistics professionals, and environmental experts are critical to ensuring that maritime activities meet international best practices.
 As global shipping and offshore industries become increasingly technology-driven, continuous training and capacity building are necessary to keep Nigerian professionals competitive in the international labour market.
Skilled maritime professionals such as seafarers, marine engineers and allied personnel in the sector could be sources of foreign exchange earnings for Nigeria as they could be exported to the international community.
Philippines and India are the world’s top exporters of skilled maritime personnel such as seafarers where they get the chunk of their foreign exchange.
If Nigeria could develop such capacity in skilled labourers in the sector and export their expertise, the country could harvest bountifully from such venture.
Equally important is the adoption and enforcement of internationally recognized standards.
Standards provide the framework for quality assurance, safety management, environmental protection, and operational excellence.
Compliance with global maritime standards established by organizations such as the International Maritime Organization(IMO) and the Nautical Institute enhances Nigeria’s credibility as a maritime nation and attracts foreign investment.
Investors and international partners are more likely to engage with institutions and businesses that demonstrate compliance with recognized benchmarks.
That is why the recent certification of the Maritime Centre of Excellence operated by NLNG Shipping and Marine Services Limited by the  UK Nautical Institute is germaine to Nigeria’s quest to develop training capacity and build compliance with standard procedures
This feat also underscores the importance of world-class training institutions in building local capacity.
That is why the  government should give necessary assistance to training institutions in Nigeria such as Maritime Academy of Nigeria(MAN),  Oron and the Maritime Centre of Excellence operated by NLNG Shipping and Marine Services Limited.
Such government patronage and assistance will not only improve the quality of maritime training in Nigeria but also position the country as a regional centre  for maritime education and professional development.
Prioritizing competency development and standards will also contribute significantly to maritime safety and environmental sustainability.
Well-trained personnel are better equipped to prevent accidents, manage maritime risks, and respond effectively to emergencies.
 Furthermore, adherence to environmental standards helps reduce marine pollution, protect biodiversity, and ensure the sustainable utilization of ocean resources, which are fundamental pillars of the blue economy.
From an economic perspective, a competent workforce and strong standards framework can increase Nigeria’s participation in global maritime trade, create high-value jobs, reduce dependence on foreign expertise, and improve the country’s competitiveness.
 It also supports local content development by enabling Nigerian professionals and companies to meet the requirements of international contracts and projects.
In conclusion, competency development and standards are not optional components of Nigeria’s blue economy strategy; they are foundational requirements for its success.
 By investing in human capital, strengthening training institutions, and enforcing internationally accepted standards, Nigeria can fully harness the immense potential of its maritime resources and transform the blue economy into a major driver of national development, economic diversification, and sustainable growth.
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